Vacuum cleaner nozzle



Dec. 12, 1950 E. A. WRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed June 15, 1944 INVENTOR. 221M420 A. MIG/Y7 fi T TORNEX Patented Dec. 12, 1950 I UNITED STATES PATENT 'oFncE VACUUM enema NOZZLE Edward A. Wright, Elk Creek, Calif.

Application June 15, 1944, Serial No. 540,479

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to attachments for use in connection with vacuum or suction cleaning apparatus and particularly for use in the cleaning of pile rugs and fabrics.

This application is a continuation in part of, abandoned application 8. N. 459349, filed September 23, 1942.

The problem in the cleaning of such fabrics and rugs is to remove the dirt (particles of sand, grit, etc.) which has fallen on the surface of the .rug and then has worked its way down into the pile towards the backing or'base oi the rug. As these particles accumulate in the pile of the rug, they tend to have an attritional effect on the pile and to destroy the rug. Hence, it is important in cleaning the rug to remove this dirt. It is also important to do it without destructively beating the pile, as any mechanical beating wears the carpet.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of nozzle which, through controlled directions of air flow, will impart to the rug pile successive agitation, shaking and lifting and tending to straighten up the pile solely by a number of almost instantaneous changes in the controlled directions of air pull.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for imparting successively to the pile in a given area of the rug radically opposed air pulls, like along the legs of a V, so that embedded dirt which may be trapped by the pile against removal in a straight upward pull or a pull at one angle, will be freed and go along with the current of air moving in the direction in which the pile does nothinder it.

Another object of my invention is to provide a type of nozzle which, in addition to subjecting the pile to a rapid flow of air tending to lift the dirt out of the rug, will also tend to separate adjacent rows of the pile and expose to the rapid flowing air streams whatever dirt and grit lies in between the pile.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which is capable of being applied to the suction heads of any suitable vacuum producing apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel vacuum cleaner which operates according to a new principle for the treatment of pile fabrics wherein there is induced the flow of generally horizontal, inwardly converging air currents into a central area in the pile from two opposite lateral directions to form a single generally upwardly moving air current, then dividing the upwardly moving air current into two oppositely,

2 upwardly and outwardly directed air currents to effect a spreading apart of the pile, and lifting the dirt and grit fromsaid pile by that vacuum induced upwardly moving air current.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which is simple in manufacture, which has no moving parts such as a rotating brush to injure the rug or get out of order, and yet achieves agitation of the rug pile in a novel and harmless manner.

Other objects of my invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, the end of the nozzle being broken off to show a cross-section of a construction of attachment embodying the principles of my invention;

FlFig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the device of Fig. 4 is a view in perspective, the end being broken off to show a cross-section of a single unit device embodying my invention;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 4:

Fig. 6 is a vertical and view of the device in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic showing of the various currents created.

Like reference numerals have been employed in the several figures to facilitate the description.

My invention can best be understood by referring briefly to the present day type of vacuum cleaner nozzle which usually has a single wide opening. As the nozzle is moved back and forth across the rug, air rushes-in under the leading and trailing edges and then upward through the carpet pile. the opening in toward the center and aids the pile in holding entrapped dirt. No advantage is taken of the valleys formed adjacent each outside edge of the nozzle because there is no upwardly directed air current at these points to lift out the exposed dirt. While the air currents beneath the leading and trailing edges are generally horizontal toward the center of the nozzle, and while the air current near the center 'of the nozzle is generally upward, the transition in direction of shown This compresses the pile beneath 3 theaircurrentsandtheireffectonthecarpetpile is so gradual that the pile is not laid open. It therefore can get a new grip on-dlsplaced dirt particles and resist the pull resiuting from the change in direction of the air current.

My invention, on the other hand: (1) agitates the pile by air, (2) spreadsapart the agitated pile from its adjacent rows of pile, and (3) subjects the agitated pile to a strong upward flow of air.

My method of treating pile type fabrics includes the steps of (1) inducing a flow of generallyhorizontal inwardly-c'onverging air currents from two laterally opposite'directiom toward a central area where they meet to form a single, generally-upward-moving air current; (2) dividing this inwardly moving air current into two oppositely directed upwardly-and-outwardly-flowing air currents, thus, effecting a spreading apart of the pile; and (3) lifting the dirt and grit out from the parted pile into these upwardly moving air currents.

The features of my invention which carry out this method maybe embodied in a wide variety of structures and arrangements of details without departing from the spirit and scope of my in- This form of the device is substantially the same and provides the conduits l1 and it which produce the opposite outwardly and upwardly directional pulls which tend to subject the embedded dirt to a flow of air at least in one directionwhere the dirt can be moved without hindrance from the pile.

For rugs of different length pile, it may be considered preferable to have means for changing the relative position of the edge It and edges l3.

To accomplish this adjustment, many different forms of mounting can be arranged for the inner member It. In Fig. 4 I have illustrated one which comprises rods which are held for rotational movement in member It by threads 26. They are mounted in housing It through holes 21 and are yieldingly secured against upward movement by spring .28. Turning of rods II will raise or lower the edge It with relation to the edges ll of the air inlet opening ll. Springs 28 also serve to hold the parts against vibration.

' An alternative arrangement,- whereby the I member I! is allowed to float on the carpet, that vention. While, therefore, I have shown and.

described, pursuant to U. S. Revised Statutes, section 4888, various operative and practical embodiments and forms of devices, I do not intend to limit my invention to the specific apparatus and to the details shown.

One form oi apparatus is shown, in Figs. 1 2, and 3, where there is a hollow body nozzle member ll having the usual neck II to which is secured a hose or handle connected to the source of vacuum. The body member has inwardly sloping sides II, which, at their inner edges II, in cooperation with angular member l9, form nar- .row air inlet openings It. The width 'of openings It should be narrow in proportion to their *depth so that the air entering will be given a definite directional pull.

Arranged within the body member II are inner flared members I! mounted adjacent the inlet openings It with their lower edges I6 projecting into the inlet openings M whereby the air flow entering the openings is divided and deflected into forwardly and rearwardly directed streams, one pair of currents passing up the conduits l1 and the other pair up the conduits it. Each opening I Just described may be regarded as a pair of openings treating each edge It as a partition.

These divided directional air streams flowing into channels [I and I! tend to separate the pile of the carpet below it, to open a V-shaped trough or valley, and thereby free any grit, dirt, etc. lying therein. When to this action is added movementof the nozzle over the carpet, a very beneflcial agitation of the pile results. As described above, this imparts successively to the rug pile a number of instantaneous changes in the direction of air pull sothat embedded dirt which may be trapped by the pile against removal in a straight upward pull or a pull at one angle will be freed and go along with the current of air moving in the direction in which the pile does not hinder it.

To facilitate entry of air so it can flow in the direction of arrows A and A through channel III in member IS, the ends of housing III are relieved at 31.

. The form of device shown in Fig. 4 is identical in operating principle with the one just described except that it has only a single unit.

is, to bear on it by gravity and thus adjust itself to proper position, is accomplished by removing the springs 28 and turning the rods 25 upwardly to the point which allows member It to assume its lowermost emcient operating position. Then, as the nozzle is moved over the carpet, member I! will rise and fall under the influence of' the surface.

Another alternative is shown in Fig. 3, where the members I are adjustably supported by screws 36 in vertically extending slots 35 in the ends of housing It.

It is optional whether means are provided for adjusting the inner member l5 as it has been found in practice that a single setting of the edges It and It will be generally satisfactory for most types of pile fabrics to be cleaned in the average home.

The operation of the vacuum cleaner will now be described with particular reference to the type of device disclosed in Fig. 1.' As the nozzle I0 is moved over the rug, the suction current being on, air is being drawn in over and through the carpet from each edge II of the sweeper head It) and also through the relieved opening 31 and the channel II. These air currents are shown by the arrows A, A A, and A. Each individual pile tends to follow the air current to which it is subjected. These inwardly sweeping air currents meet at the center of the narrow air inlet opening ll. Then they tend to move upward into the nozzle. As they move upward,they are divided, almost immediately, into one current passing up through the passageway l1 and another current passing up through the passageway l8. At any one moment, the pile below the opening H is thus laid open, forming a valley so that the dirt can be drawn up into the passageways I1 and I8.

As applicant's device is passed to the right over the rug, the air current under the leading edge I3 is horizontal towards the rear (to the left in Fig. 1) through the rug pile and through any space which may exist between the bottom of the nozzle and the floor. However, as the first narrow slot l8 passes over the point on the rug, the direction of the air current suddenly changes approximately in the direction of the opening l8. (See the diagram in Fig. 7.) There is no substantial drop in air velocity at this time, because of the narrow cross sectional width of 7 the passageway l8 and because of its cross sectional length, which prevents the main air current from taking any short cuts and forces it to flow up the passageway 18.

Then, as the dividing point 16 between the passageways I1 and 18 passes over the given point in the rug, the direction of the air current is suddenly changed, approximately 90, and the air passes up the passageway l1. After the passageway I4 is passed, the air current is once again changed approximately 195 and becomes horizontal in the direction of A In the type of device shown in Fig. 4, this comprises the complete operation cycle. However, in the type of device shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the cycle is repeated as the second pair of openings l8 and I! pass over the rug. This cycle is repeated for as many sets of channels as are embodied in the nozzle.

The sudden radical changes in the direction of the strong air currents tend to shake loose dirt particles and pull them away before the pile fibers have time to get a new grasp on them and to increase inertia against the pull in the new direction. The opposite directional ducts I! and I8 tend to open up the pile and to lift it up and straighten it rather than to compress or mat it. Thus, the dirt far down in the pile is drawn up by the force of the air currents alone. There is no necessity for any mechanical beating which tends to break the rug fibers.

The action of the rug which is described is clearly visible to the eye on rugs having a soft pile. On rugs having a stiff pile, the action is not always visible, but it is always present.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of two narrow closely spaced, adjacent parallel slits to engage the surface of the pile fabric materiai, and a pair of outwardly diverging substantially parallel-walled conduits in said body member, defined in part by a transverse partition having a narrow imperforate lower edge extending into the plane of the working face, said conduits com municating at their upper wide apart ends with the source of vacuum and with their lower ends connected to said closely adjacent slits where they open onto said working face, whereby only a vacuum induced flow of air is present which sweeps through the fabric pile tending to cause the pile to divide as the upwardly flowing air stream divides and bends outwardly into said conduits thereby tending to lay apart the pile between said slit-s and exposing any entrapped dirt and grit to the full upward sweep of the vacuum-induced upwardly-flowing air current to lift out any dirt and grit therein.

2. The device of claim 1 adapted for treating pile fabrics with vacuum induced upward sweeping currents simultaneously at a plurality of spaced apart points in which said body member has a plurality of said transverse partitions, each of which is bounded by said adjacent parallel slits and said outwardly diverging conduits.

EDWARD A. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 759,452 Lotz May 10, 1904 850,909 Diserens Apr. 23, 1907 855,433 Freeman May 28, 1907 889,121 Green May 26, 1908 896,290 Freeman Aug. 18, 1908 1,034,260 Lichtenberg July 30, 1912 1,465,711 Gray Aug. 21, 1923 1,606,633 Higley Nov. 9, 1929 2,198,322 Von Schrader Apr. 23, 1940 

